Nikolay Alexeyevich Nekrasov developed the idea of publishing his works in the form of a series of books that would be accessible, understandable and affordable to ordinary people. For this purpose, he tried to establish ties with Moscow lubok publishers, but they viewed Nekrasov as a competitor and declined his proposal for publication.
Nikolay Alexeyevich decided to turn for help to the publisher Ivan Aleksandrovich Golyshev from the Mstyora sloboda, Vyaznikovsky uyezd, Vladimir governorate. Nikolay Alexeyevich assumed all the costs of printing the books and refused the income from sales.
On March 28, 1862, Nekrasov wrote to Golyshev,
